If you live in a big city like I do you probably think there isn't much you can do to change your environment when actually you are poised to create a bastion for urban pollinators. Densely populated cities are wastelands to many wildlife and with cities ever expanding into ecological habitats it only compounds the need for urban gardeners. Your sad little window box or tiny patio container garden may seem insignificant to you but it makes all the difference for the survival of our pollinators. What to Plant Bees are dying at an alarming rate. If we loose these amazing pollinators we will be in a pretty horrible situation. Factory farming has encouraged large scale production of crops, and these fields stretch miles longer than traditional farms ever did. Bees living in the middle of these farms encounter problems collecting pollen and the pesticides have taken a huge toll as well. While there isn't much we can do to change this in our daily lives we can focus on planting urban gardens to provide a corridor for pollinators. Focus on plants that Bees love like Rosemary, Lavender, Asclepias (butterfly weed), Geranium, Poppies, Clover, Chives. Build A Bee Hotel Bee hotels provide respite in a harsh city environment. Pollinators fly vast distances in search of their next flower and a nice place to rest can make all the difference in survival. Bee hotels are easy to make because Bees don't need a lot of space. If you have a drill you can simply drill several holes into a block of wood and place it in your garden in a quiet corner. If you don't have a drill you can still make a hotel by using rolled cardboard held in place by a tin can or cup. This is a great option because it keeps trash out of our landfills! Do you have any tips or tricks to share? Please let me know if you do by sending me a message. - Holly Milstead